United States v. Taurean Potter ( 2020 )

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
_____________
No. 19-3647
_____________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
TAUREAN POTTER
Appellant
_______________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Pennsylvania
(D.C. No. 2-18-cr-279-002)
District Judge: Hon. Arthur J. Schwab
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Argued
September 24, 2020
Before: McKEE, JORDAN, and RENDELL, Circuit Judges.
(Filed: November 13, 2020)
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William C. Kaczynski [ARGUED]
1004 Manor Complex
564 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Counsel for Appellant
Donovan J. Cocas [ARGUED]
Laura S. Irvin
Office of United States Attorney
700 Grant Street – Suite 4000
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Counsel for Appellee
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OPINION*
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JORDAN, Circuit Judge.
Taurean Potter was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, in violation of
21 U.S.C. § 846, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of 21
U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). He now argues that the District Court erred in
admitting into evidence a law enforcement agent’s testimony under Federal Rule of
Evidence 404(b) and that the government did not present enough evidence to sustain his
conspiracy conviction. We disagree and will affirm, on plain error review.
I. BACKGROUND
In 2017, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (“OAG”) identified Potter
as one of several cocaine distributors selling at bars in Ellwood City. On October 14,
2017, OAG Special Agent Sean Kirley led an undercover operation with a confidential
informant (“CI”) and an undercover agent, Scott Patterson. They first went to the Shelby
Bar, where the CI introduced Patterson to a bartender, Kacie Zito, who sold him cocaine.
They then went to the Main Street Bar, where the CI and Patterson met Potter. The CI
*
This disposition is not an opinion of the full court and, pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7,
does not constitute binding precedent.
2
told Potter that Patterson wanted to buy cocaine, and the CI and Potter negotiated the
purchase. When that was done, Patterson followed Potter into a bathroom stall, where
they exchanged money and cocaine. Later that night, Patterson asked Potter for more
cocaine, and they conducted another exchange at the bar.
Several months later, on February 16, 2018, the same agents and CI conducted a
further undercover operation in Ellwood City. At the Main Street Bar, the CI and
Patterson talked to Potter about buying cocaine but did not procure any from him.1 The
1
Potter argues that the District Court sustained an objection to Patterson’s
testimony about that conversation, and the jury therefore could not have relied on it. The
transcript provides as follows:
THE GOVERNMENT: Would you take the members of the jury through what you
can recall about your interactions with Taurean Potter on that evening.
AGENT PATTERSON: So, that one was at the same bar, the Main Street in Elwood
[sic] City. I was advised that he was there, which is why we went there. Upon
entering the bar, he was in the area of the bar, so we sparked up a conversation,
myself, him, and the confidential informant.
THE GOVERNMENT: Did he recognize you from the previous transaction?
AGENT PATTERSON: Yes. From there, the conversation went to, as we planned,
to purchase cocaine where the CI had effectively asked him to purchase a ball –
DEFENSE COUNSEL: I’m going to object to anything the CI said.
THE COURT: Sustained.
...
THE COURT: Disregard the portion where he spoke about what somebody told
him.
THE GOVERNMENT: Did you have instructions to the CI to attempt to purchase
cocaine from Taurean Potter that day?
AGENT PATTERSON: Yes.
THE GOVERNMENT: Ultimately, were you able to physically get cocaine directly
from Taurean Potter?
AGENT PATTERSON: No.
(App. at 91-92.)
The District Court sustained the objection as to the CI asking to purchase a “ball”
of cocaine, but the statement about Patterson, the CI, and Potter having a conversation
3
CI and Patterson then went to the Hazel Manor Bar, where Agent Kirley was waiting and
watching. Kirley testified that Dylan Main and Anthony Washington, who were
subsequently named in the indictment as Potter’s co-conspirators, walked into the
bathroom of the bar and emerged together approximately thirty seconds later. Main
immediately left the bar. Washington then approached Patterson and sold him cocaine,
without any prompting from Patterson to do so. There is no evidence that Washington
had ever met Patterson before approaching him to hand him cocaine.
At trial, Potter faced two charges: (1) conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and (2)
possession with intent to distribute cocaine.2 The government presented evidence from
five witnesses: Zito, Washington, a cocaine buyer named Jeffrey Vitale, Agent Patterson,
and Agent Kirley. Zito testified that she had known Potter her whole life but,
contradicting her testimony from her change-of-plea hearing, denied that he was one of
her cocaine suppliers. She said she either lied or did not understand the questions when
she earlier stated that Potter had supplied her with cocaine. While Zito admitted that
that turned to the topic of purchasing cocaine was admitted. Defense counsel objected to
“anything the CI said,” and the District Court sustained the objection regarding “the
portion where he spoke about what somebody told him.” (App. at 91-92.) While Potter
is correct that the jury was instructed to disregard Patterson’s testimony quoting what the
CI said, the jury could properly consider the conversation’s eventual focus on the
purchase of cocaine. Combined with Patterson’s instructions to the CI to attempt to
purchase cocaine from Potter that day, and the later delivery of cocaine to Patterson, a
reasonable trier of fact could infer that the discussion with Potter on February 16, 2018
specifically referenced Patterson’s desire to purchase cocaine.
2
Although the grand jury indicted Potter on a third count of possession with intent
to distribute cocaine, stemming from the events on February 16, 2018, the government
moved to dismiss that count before Potter’s trial. The District Court granted the motion.
4
“associates of Mr. Potter [had] been pressuring [her] not to testify,” she said she did not
change her testimony because of that. (App. at 159.)
Washington also testified pursuant to a plea agreement. He said he had been
friends with Potter for several years and had purchased cocaine from him a “[c]ouple
times” for the purposes of reselling it. (App. at 183-85.) As he described it, Potter had
“help[ed]” him out on a “few occasions,” as had Dylan Main, by providing cocaine that
Washington could resell when Washington was short on supply. (Id.) According to
Washington, he purchased cocaine from Potter at prices ranging from $200 to $300 per
3.5 grams (an “eight ball”), and the drugs were packaged in a plastic bag. (App. at 185.)
Nevertheless, he testified that Potter “had nothing to do with it” when he sold cocaine to
Agent Patterson in February of 2018. (App. at 186.) Washington also said that, in March
of that year, he stole some cocaine from Potter when he was “just looking in a cabinet”
and “saw some.” (App. at 186-87.)
Vitale testified that he was a former drug addict who purchased cocaine from
Potter “[j]ust a few” times, always at the bar. (App. at 120-22.) Vitale would buy an
“eight ball” packaged in a tied plastic bag for $125 to $150. (App. at 122-23.)
During direct examination of Agent Kirley, who witnessed the February 2018
transaction, the government asked, “Now, was there any purchase made from Mr. Potter
that night?” (App. at 211.) He responded, “[n]ot directly.” (App. at 211.) Defense
counsel objected, saying, “I would object, Your Honor, to the characterization, not
directly. He knows what he knows.” (App. at 211.) The District Court responded, “I’ll
overrule the objection. That’s his answer.” (App. at 211.) Defense counsel
5
acknowledged the ruling and questioning continued, with Agent Kirley describing the
drug sale he saw between Washington and Agent Patterson.
The jury found Potter guilty on both counts, and he has timely appealed.
II. DISCUSSION3
Potter raises two issues on appeal. First, he contends that the District Court
committed reversible error in admitting into evidence a law enforcement agent’s
testimony implying that he (Potter) had effectuated an indirect sale of cocaine on
February 16, 2018. Second, he argues that the government introduced insufficient
evidence to sustain a guilty verdict for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.4 Given our
standard of review, we disagree with both arguments.
A. “Other Act” Evidence
Potter argues that the District Court erred when it admitted Agent Kirley’s
testimony that Agent Patterson did “[n]ot directly” receive cocaine from Potter during the
February 2018 operation. (App. at 211.) Potter says the testimony was improper “other
act” evidence, under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b).
Properly preserved evidentiary objections are typically reviewed for abuse of
discretion, Gov’t of Virgin Islands v. Albert, 241 F.3d 344, 347 (3d Cir. 2001), and Potter
did object to Kirley’s “not directly” statement. But Federal Rule of Evidence 103(a)(1)
3
We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The District Court had
jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231.
4
The parties presented the issues in the opposite order. Because our sufficiency of
the evidence review necessarily requires us to consider the admissible evidence, we first
decide whether the District Court erred in admitting the challenged testimony.
6
requires “a timely and specific objection to evidence erroneously admitted.” United
States v. Moore, 375 F.3d 259, 262 (3d Cir. 2004) (emphasis added). The objection, “he
knows what he knows,” was not sufficiently specific to preserve the issue now on appeal,
as there was no mention of Rule 404(b) nor any reference to “other act” evidence. See
United States v. Sandini, 803 F.2d 123, 126 (3d Cir. 1986) (holding an objection on
relevance grounds did not properly preserve an “other act” evidence challenge for
appeal). Arguing that Kirley “knows what he knows” did not put the District Court on
notice that an objection was being made on Rule 404(b) grounds. Thus, we will review
for plain error. On plain error review, the defendant must show that there was (1) an error
(2) that is plain or obvious, (3) that impacted “the outcome of the district court
proceedings,” and (4) that “seriously affect[ed] the fairness, integrity or public reputation
of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-36 (1993) (citations
omitted).
Under Rule 404(b), “[e]vidence of a crime, wrong, or other act is not admissible to
prove a person’s character in order to show that on a particular occasion the person acted
in accordance with the character.” Fed. R. Evid. 404(b). It may, however, be admitted
for such purposes as “proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge,
identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident.” Id. Before admitting “other act”
evidence probative of a material issue other than character, the District Court must
determine whether its probative value outweighs its potential for unfair prejudice, under
Rule 403. United States v. Davis, 726 F.3d 434, 441 (3d Cir. 2013). But evidence of acts
that are intrinsic to the offense is, by definition, not evidence of “other acts” and so is not
7
covered by Rule 404(b). United States v. Cross, 308 F.3d 308, 320 (3d Cir. 2002).
“[M]ost circuit courts view evidence as intrinsic if it is ‘inextricably intertwined’ with the
charged offense[.]” Id. (quoting United States v. Bowie, 232 F.3d 923, 927-28 (D.C. Cir.
2000). In the case of a conspiracy, “acts are intrinsic when they directly prove the
charged conspiracy.” Id. (citing United States v. Gibbs, 190 F.3d 188, 217–18 (3d Cir.
1999)).
Potter argues that Kirley’s answer when asked whether Potter sold cocaine to
Patterson in February 2018 unfairly suggested that Kirley knew of other evidence of guilt
not disclosed to the jury. Potter further says that he was not involved in the February
2018 sale and that Washington’s testimony to that effect makes Kirley’s statement
evidence of another crime or of propensity to commit a crime. By Potter’s lights, the
District Court was therefore obligated to weigh the probative value of the statement
against its prejudicial effect, which it did not do. At a minimum, he says, there should
have been a limiting instruction telling the jury what it could and could not consider the
evidence for, given the restrictions of Rule 404(b). Potter also argues that the
government breached its duty to correct materially false testimony by letting Kirley’s
testimony stand, thus violating due process.
The fundamental problem for Potter in that entire line of argument is that Agent
Kirley’s testimony regards an act intrinsic to the charged conspiracy, not evidence of
other acts. Following the objection, Kirley provided further context to his “[n]ot
directly” statement, explaining how he witnessed Washington approach Patterson and –
seemingly without any introduction or other comment – hand him drugs. (App. at 211.)
8
This supports an inference that Potter had communicated to Washington that he should
sell cocaine to Patterson. The February 2018 interactions were thus used to directly
prove the charged conspiracy and so constitute intrinsic evidence. See Cross, 308 F.3d at
320. To the extent Potter argues that Kirley’s testimony is not intrinsic evidence because
it contradicts Washington’s testimony, contradictory evidence presents a weight-of-the-
evidence question for the jury, not an admissibility question for the judge.5 United States
v. Claxton, 766 F.3d 280, 302 (3d Cir. 2014).
The government also did not breach a duty to correct materially false testimony by
letting the testimony stand because there is no indication that Kirley’s testimony was
false or that the government had reason to think it was. See United States v. Stadtmauer,
620 F.3d 238, 267 (3d Cir. 2010) (explaining that the defendant bears the burden of
establishing “(1) [the witness] committed perjury; (2) the Government knew or should
have known that [the witness] committed perjury but failed to correct his testimony; and
(3) there is a reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the
verdict”).
Accordingly, we conclude that the District Court did not commit error, let alone
plain error, in failing to sustain Potter’s evidentiary objection.
5
The point that Potter was behind the sale of cocaine to Patterson on that
occasion, even if not the direct source, had already been alluded to earlier in the record.
(See App. at 92 (The government: “Ultimately, were you able to physically get cocaine
directly from Taurean Potter?” Agent Patterson: “No.”).)
9
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Potter also argues that the jury’s guilty verdict was not supported by sufficient
evidence. If a defendant has preserved a sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenge, we
review the evidence “in the light most favorable to the prosecution to determine whether
any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a
reasonable doubt.” United States v. Garner, 915 F.3d 167, 169 (3d Cir. 2019) (internal
quotation marks omitted) (citations omitted). That standard is “highly deferential,” and
we will uphold the jury verdict “as long as it passes the ‘bare rationality’ test.” United
States v. Bailey, 840 F.3d 99, 110 (3d Cir. 2016) (citation omitted). But the steep climb
Potter faces, given that standard of review, is steeper still because he did not object to the
sufficiency of the evidence at trial, so we again review his argument for plain error.
United States v. Dobson, 419 F.3d 231, 236 (3d Cir. 2005). He cannot make the climb.
He has not shown that an error actually exists, so his argument fails at the first step of
plain error review. It also necessarily fails at the second step, since it is not plain and
obvious that the evidence was insufficient.
In a drug case, “[t]he elements of a charge of conspiracy are: (1) a unity of
purpose between the alleged conspirators; (2) an intent to achieve a common goal; and
(3) an agreement to work together toward that goal.” United States v. Pressler, 256 F.3d
144, 149 (3d Cir. 2001) (internal quotation marks omitted) (citation omitted). The
government need not offer direct evidence of the conspiracy, nor must it prove that the
“defendant knew all of the conspiracy’s details, goals, or other participants.” Bailey, 840
F.3d at 108 (citations omitted). Rather, “[w]e can infer such a conspiracy when evidence
10
of related facts and circumstances make clear that the defendant[ ] could not have carried
out [his] activities except as the result of a preconceived scheme or common
understanding.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted) (citations omitted).
A mere buyer-seller relationship “without any prior or contemporaneous
understanding beyond the sales agreement itself” cannot alone establish the buyer and
seller entered into a conspiracy. Gibbs, 190 F.3d at 197 (citations omitted). In United
States v. Pressler, we held that no conspiracy had been proven where the defendant
distributed heroin he had obtained from a supplier. 256 F.3d at 147. The defendant also
referred some buyers to the supplier, and the supplier’s many buyers often resold the
heroin themselves. Id. We said, “the mere fact that a defendant comprehends that a
person from whom he or she buys drugs or to whom he or she sells drugs also sells drugs
to others is not itself sufficient proof that the defendant and the other person are
conspirators.” Id. at 153.
The focus of the analysis in Pressler was on the alleged agreement, because an
agreement “is the essence of the offense” of conspiracy. Id. at 147. To prove that an
agreement existed, “[t]he Government needed to show only that [the defendant]
conspired with ‘someone—anyone.’” Id. at 149 (quoting United States v. Obialo, 23
F.3d 69, 73 (3d Cir. 1994)). Although we decided that the government had not proven an
agreement in Pressler, we held there was proof of an agreement in United States v.
Iglesias, where the alleged co-conspirator had “purchased drugs from [the defendant]
‘once or twice’ … [and the defendant] gave [the co-conspirator] drugs on credit[.]” 535
F.3d 150, 156 (3d Cir. 2008). We noted that the defendant had invited the co-conspirator
11
to his apartment “with drugs in plain view[,]” which “reflect[ed] a level of mutual trust
consistent with a conspiracy.” Id. (citation omitted). Given those facts, we concluded the
defendant and his co-conspirator shared a common goal, the intent to achieve that goal,
and an agreement to cooperate to achieve it through a credit arrangement. Id.Potter argues that the evidence introduced at trial in his case does not establish a
shared unity of purpose between him and any co-conspirator. Nor, he says, was there
sufficient proof of an intent to achieve a common goal or of an agreement to work
together toward that goal. He instead says that the evidence suggests a mere buyer-seller
relationship, in the nature of his relationship with Vitale. Potter also emphasizes that
Washington and Zito testified they did not work with him to distribute drugs.6
While Potter’s argument is not without force – the proof of an agreement here is
quite thin – he still fails to show that no rational trier of fact could have found proof of
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, nor that it is plain and obvious that a rational juror
would have to find him not guilty. See Olano, 507 U.S. at 735-36; Bailey, 840 F.3d at
110. Despite Potter’s argument that the evidence fails to establish an underlying
agreement, Agent Kirley’s testimony that Washington approached Agent Patterson,
without ever having met Patterson before, and began to give him cocaine is evidence of
an agreement between Potter and Washington to supply Patterson with drugs. That
6
The parties also dispute the existence of several factors from United States v.
Gibbs, which we held can demonstrate circumstantially that a defendant was part of a
drug conspiracy. 190 F.3d at 199. But the relevant evidence to take us past the bare
rationality threshold here is the drug sale between Washington and Patterson, which
implies a previous communication between Washington and Potter.
12
implication is supported by the evidence that Patterson, the CI, and Potter had just
discussed Patterson’s desire to purchase cocaine. A reasonable juror could infer that
Potter told Washington that Patterson was a buyer and gave him Patterson’s location with
the intention that Washington would effect the sale. Construed in the light most
favorable to the prosecution, a reasonable juror could give little or no weight to
Washington’s testimony that Potter was not involved and could instead accept Kirley’s
version of events suggesting a collaboration among Potter, Washington, and Main.
Indeed, the jury could reasonably have accepted Kirley’s version of events because of
Washington’s other testimony that he occasionally purchased cocaine from Main and
Potter for resale when he was short on supply. A loose conspiracy is still a conspiracy.
Potter’s circumstances are thus distinguishable from the facts in Pressler. The
evidence here is sufficient, on plain error review, to establish more than a mere buyer-
seller relationship existed, as a jury could rationally determine that Potter and
Washington shared a common goal to sell cocaine, an intent to achieve that purpose by
facilitating a sale, and an agreement to sell cocaine.
Although the totality of evidence here is weaker than the government should have
presented, we cannot say on plain error review that no rational juror could have found
Potter guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. To summarize, Potter engaged in a
discussion with Agent Patterson and the CI about purchasing cocaine, and, shortly
thereafter, Patterson was approached by Washington, an apparent stranger, to hand him
drugs for purchase. The jury could credit that seemingly spontaneous drug deal to Potter
13
working with Washington to sell cocaine, which provides circumstantial evidence
sufficient in this case to support the finding of a conspiracy.7
Therefore, we conclude that Potter has failed to establish plain error.8
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment of
conviction.
7
Judge McKee joins the opinion. He concludes that, although it might otherwise
be as likely that the CI provided the details that Washington needed to sell Patterson
drugs and not Potter, the jury could also consider Zito’s prior inconsistent statement
during her guilty plea colloquy in which she said that she had sold drugs for Potter. That
statement is not hearsay pursuant to 801(d)(1)(A) as Zito was available for cross
examination and it was given under oath during a court proceeding. The totality of this
evidence is sufficient on plain error review to prevent us from finding that the conviction
here does not meet the bare rationality test of Bailey even though it barely survives.
8
Because of that, we need not evaluate whether the presence of an invalidated
conspiracy count had any spill-over effect sufficiently prejudicial to reverse Potter’s
conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. See United States v. Lee,
612 F.3d 170, 178 (3d Cir. 2010).
14